Step-ladder



- (No Model.)

M. G. GAR'TRELL.

STEP LADDER.

No. 301,110. Patented July 1, 188 1.

lwmm I I Wmz 2 MARY G. G-AR'IRELL, OF INDIANOLA, I OXVA.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 301,110, dated July 1, 1884.

' Application filed January 18, 1884. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARY G. GAR'IRELL, of Indianola, in the county of WVarren and State of Iowa, have invented an Improved Step- Ladder, of which the following is a specification.

Heretofore a platform has been hinged to a pivoted section of a step-ladder in such a manner that a person could ascend upon the steps and stand on the level top cross-piece to adjust the hinged platform and pivoted section of the steps in such a way that the hinged platform would be supported in a horizontal position and upon the same plane with the top cross-piece to produce an extended platform at the top of the ladder upon which a person could step around and place a bucket of water,

paint, or paste, and brushes and other tools, to facilitate scrubbing, painting, or papering walls and ceilings; but it-is difficult for timid persons to stand upon the narrow crosspiece to adjust the hinged platform; and my object is to combine a platform with a step-ladder in such a manner that a person can adjust it before reaching the top of the ladder, and then step directly from the upper step to the horizontally extended andfixed platform with confidence and safety, to move about thereon as required in working upon it. An extensionstep has also been hinged to the top step of a ladder, and braces having forked ends pivoted to the extension-step in such a manner that the free edge of the hinged step could be raised above the level of the fixed top step, and the prongs of the free ends of the pendent braces pivoted thereto slipped into fixed staples to form a support to retain thehinged step in a horizontal position.

My improvement consists in pivoting a frame between the folding legs of a step-ladder and hinging a platform to the top of the ladder, as hereinafter fully set forth, in such a manner that the pivoted frame can be folded between the legs and the hinged platform folded over them, and the adjustable parts placed compactly together when the ladder is to, be used for the common purposes of a step-ladder, and the pivoted frame readily pushed outward at its free top end, to thereby elevate and sup port the hinged platform in a horizontal level position, for the purpose of retaining a person and materials and tools in an elevated position, as required in painting and papering walls and ceilings, washing windows, &c.

Figure 1 of my accompanying drawings is a half-section of my step-ladder, showing the platform extended horizontally and supported over the inclined legs by the pivoted frame. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the hinged platform and complete steps folded together, as required to facilitate moving it about and storing it away when not in use. Together these figures clearly illustrate the construction and operation of my complete invention.

a a are the side pieces, to which the entire series of steps 1 2 3 4 5 are permanently fixed by nailing or in any suitable way.

I) I) are the legs hinged to the top ends of the pieces a or the eross-piece c, fixed thereto.

(1 is a frame, pivoted at its lower end to the central portion of the legs I) in such a manner that it will fold between the legs when not in use, and turn outward at its top end and away from the cross-piece c, to support one end of a platform when its other end is connected with and supported by the cross-piece.

f is a platform hinged to the top of thelad der. f is a cleat fixed across the under side and free end of the platform, so that it can be readily connected with the top and free end of the hinged frame, to retain the hinged platform in a horizontal position, as required, to support a person that may ascend the ladder and step thereon.

g g are adjustable braces, that hold the legs in fixed position relative to the side pieces, a, and the series of steps 1 2 3 4 5, when the legs are distended and inclined, to produce a broad base for the support of the complete ladder and platform when in use.

I claim as my invention 1. In combination with a step ladder, a frame pivoted between the legs thereof to swing to and from the top of the ladder, and a hinged platform at the top of the ladder, for the purposes stated.

2. A step-ladder, a Z) c, a pivoted frame, (2 cl, and a hinged platform, f f, arranged and combined substantially as shown and described, to operate in the manner set forth, for the purposes stated.

MARY (l. G-ARTRETJL.

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.T. M. Fnnnnn, .T. M. Pontoon. 

